FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston Marathon Foundation to Support
Local Running Programs
HOUSTON (November 12, 2015) - The Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF)
announced today that it is providing $90,000 in support towards local
running programs and youth initiatives across the Greater Houston Region.
Since its inception in 2008, the HMF has provided over $800,000 in funding
for local youth initiatives, health and wellness programs, national elite
runners and community enhancement projects in Houston.
This year, the Foundation is supporting Students Run Houston, Katy Students
Run, Girls on the Run Greater Houston, Bel Inizio, the Houston Wellness
Project, the Brookwood Community and race participants with special needs.
"Supporting the local running community and creating opportunities for new
runners in the Greater Houston Region is a primary goal of the Houston
Marathon Foundation," said Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston
Marathon Foundation and Committee. "We are excited to work with these
wonderful organizations again this year, helping students and adults train
for their first running event and supporting local groups who promote the
benefits of running as part of a healthy lifestyle."
The Students Run Houston initiative will provide over 300 race entries,
tech shirts, coaching stipends and transportation for students
participating in after-school running programs with Katy Students Run
(Morton Ranch High School, Katy High School and Katy Taylor High School)
and HISD schools (Chavez High School, Sharpstown High School, Hamilton
Middle School, Spring Woods Middle School and Ortiz Middle School). This
program will allow students to have a safe after school environment, build
self-esteem, set long- and short-term goals, and help them train to cross
the finish line. All of these students will be participating in the Aramco
Houston Half Marathon or the ABB 5K on race weekend, January 16-17, 2016.
Girls on the Run Greater Houston is a non-profit program that works to
encourage pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles
through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, culminating in a
celebratory 5k race. The organization's curricula seeks to address all
aspects of the girls' development to enhance their physical, emotional,
mental, social, and spiritual well-being, while establishing a lifetime
appreciation of health and fitness. It also affords area runners who could
not afford to participate with an opportunity to participate in the program
and run with their peers.
Bel Inizio helps disadvantaged women develop self-confidence and life
skills through fitness and nutrition. Participants train to complete a 5K,
which helps prepare them for the ultimate race - the race for a better
life. While training, these women learn about commitment, fitness, and
nutrition, while also learning how to succeed independently and to build
self-esteem.
The Houston Wellness Project is a nonprofit organization that strives to
empower all individuals to make positive healthy lifestyle choices by
providing accessible wellness education and programming. They offer a free
monthly 5K in the heights and George Bush Park and are a recent recipient
of the Houston Press "best health and wellness enterprise." In 2016, they
will be adding two new sites to their free runs - Pearland and San Jacinto.
The HMF, as part of their special needs initiative, will support the
Brookwood Community with the Cross Country Championships Run, which is
conducted to promote awareness of the campus and fundraise for the
development of a campus running trail. Brookwood provides meaning and
purpose for adults with disabilities. The Brookwood Citizens have full-time
jobs in various enterprises that provide revenue to support their
community.
Additionally, the HMF will provide free entry fees for Duo Team wheelchair
captains and for guides who assist runners participating in the visually
impaired division at the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon Race Weekend of
Events.
In addition to the numerous U.S. elite distance running programs supported
by the HMF and funding provided to create opportunities for new runners in
the Greater Houston Region and also to support the vibrant local running
community, the HMF also distributes the Susan Poorman Blackie Scholarship
annually and partners with Texas Children's Hospital to put on an annual
Family Fun Run on the Katy Campus (April 11, 2016). An announcement
outlining these two HMF initiatives will be released later this year.
For more information, visit www.houstonmarathonfoundation.com.
About The Houston Marathon Foundation
Founded in 2008, the Houston Marathon Foundation is committed to support
the advancement of running as an element of a balanced, healthy lifestyle
in the Houston community and nationally. The national focus of the
organization is dedicated to promoting and improving the sport of distance
running while locally, the organization supports running related program
and community needs that will improve and create effective health-based
initiatives. Additionally, youth programs and after school running
programs provide coaching, support, guidance and opportunity to over 1,000
Houston area students annually who would otherwise have few or no fitness
opportunities and many of whom participate in the annual Houston Marathon
Committee weekend events.
For more information, visit www.houstonmarathonfoundation.com or call
713.957.3453.
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